Give the gift of sustainability

Hume City Council is reminding everyone to be waste wise throughout the festive season and into 2019, when celebrating with your family, friends and neighbours.

Mayor of Hume City, Councillor Carly Moore said there are several simple things Hume residents can do over the Christmas and New Year period to help reduce waste and their impact on our environment.

“Council will continue kerbside collections over the festive season, but we are asking everyone to think before putting things into the bin,” Cr Moore said.

“The best thing you can do is reduce your waste in the first place, the Christmas food shop is one example where some extra thought and planning can dramatically reduce the amount of waste you create.

“Other ways you can be more sustainable this Christmas, is to think about whether an item could be restored, reused or recycled before throwing anything out – you might not need it, but somebody else might.”

Here are a few sustainability-minded suggestions to consider:

Donate, don’t dump! Instead of throwing unwanted Christmas items in the bin, look for opportunities to donate them to local charities or organisations. Online and social networking marketplaces are also an easy way to connect your unwanted Christmas items with someone who will treasure them.

DIY Decorations. Try your hand at making your Christmas decorations out of natural or recycled materials. You can cut out the pictures from last year’s Christmas cards and create gift tags.

Thoughtful gift ideas! Pot a plant, knit a scarf, or bake a cake. Volunteering or supporting a charity or community organisation is also another way to share the spirit of Christmas.

Share experiences not stuff! Take a family trip to the zoo, give friends a voucher to learn a new skill together or go on a bicycle tour. Often people remember the time you spend with them more than items you buy them.

Shop local. If you are going to buy a gift for that special someone, support the Hume business community and shop local. Check out the pre-loved items at local charity shops for that unique gift.

Include the wrapping as part of the gift. A scarf or tea towel used as wrapping can add to a gift and look beautiful under the tree. Recycled wrapping can also add a unique personal touch to a present; try using old comics or music sheets as wrapping paper.

Love your leftovers. Make sure you refrigerate leftover food as soon as possible and plan future meals to use up the leftover ingredients – ensuring that they are thoroughly reheated if necessary. If you are entertaining at home, try to avoid using disposable straws, plates and napkins, and instead use washing up time as a chance to get together.

Tree mulching service. Two tree mulching days are held in January each year to help residents dispose of natural Christmas trees. This year, mulching days will be held on Saturday 5 January and Sunday 6 January. Find out more at www.hume.vic.gov.au/treemulching

Dispose of electronics properly. Remember to recycle any electronic items, such as TVs and computers at Council’s resource recovery centres in Sunbury and Campbellfield for free. Both our Hume Global Learning Centres in Broadmeadows and Craigieburn also have free recycling hubs for small electronic items such as mobile phones, batteries and cameras.

Too big for the bin? Council will continue kerbside collections over the Christmas period. Residents are also entitled to up to two free hard rubbish collections each year! For more information, visit www.hume.vic.gov.au/hardrubbish

The Riddell Road Waste and Recycling Transfer Station and Landfill (Sunbury) and Bolinda Road Resource Recovery Centre (Campbellfield) are open every day except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Some items can be taken to the tip for free, but items such as furniture and appliances require a tip pass. You can find more information about what items can be taken to the tip and how to redeem your tip pass at www.hume.vic.gov.au/tips